How to Grow Cantaloupes in Tennessee

Start cantaloupe seeds indoors three weeks before you intend to plant them outside. Place three seeds 1/2-inch deep in a biodegradable pot that can be planted directly in the garden when the seedlings are ready. Gently water the seeds, and move them to an area where the soil temperature can be kept between 80 and 90 degrees Fahrenheit. This may require setting the pots on a heat mat.

Keep the seeds moist but not soggy or wet until they germinate. Upon germination, thin the seedlings so that there is only one in each pot, and lower the soil temperature to the mid-70s. Water the seedlings less often than you did prior to germination, but do not allow the soil to completely dry.

Set the seedlings outside for a few hours each afternoon to gradually acclimate them to outdoor conditions. Gradually increase the amount of time that the seedlings are left outside. Do not expose the seedlings to temperatures below 55 degrees F during this process.

Prepare the planting bed by removing any weeds, grass or rocks. Work some 10-20-10 fertilizer into the soil if you have reason to believe it may be nutrient-deficient. If desired, you can add a second fertilizer application as a side-dressing after the seedlings are planted and begin to vine.

Plant the cantaloupe seedlings outside after the danger of frost has passed, spacing the plants 2 to 3 feet apart in full sun. plant the entire biodegradable pot rather than attempting to remove the seedling. Plant the entire biodegradable pot rather than attempting to remove the seedling, because cantaloupe roots do not take well to disturbance.

Gardeners living in western Tennessee should plant cantaloupes outside between April 25 and May 1, while those living in the middle of the state should wait until sometime between May 1 and May 10. Eastern Tennessee gardeners living in low elevations can plant between May 5 and May 15, while those at higher elevations should wait until May 10 to 20.

Spread mulch around the cantaloupe plants, and weed around them as often as needed to keep weeds from competing with the cantaloupe or overgrowing it. Cantaloupes grow low to the ground and do not do a good job of creating shade and blocking sunlight from surrounding weeds. Weeds left unchecked can easily overwhelm young cantaloupe plants.

Water the plants regularly, providing 1 to 2 inches of water a week to keep the soil moist until the cantaloupes are the size of tennis balls. When the fruit has reached this size, water only when the soil is dry and the leaves of the plant begin to wilt.

Place melons on pieces of wood or overturned gardening pots as soon as they form on the vine to protect them from insect damage that may occur if the fruit sits directly on the ground. If a pest problem does develop, treat it only after seeking the advice of your local garden center or extension office. Insects can be a problem in cantaloupes, but bees are needed for pollination, so spraying a general insecticide on the plants is not an option.

Harvest your cantaloupes by cutting them from the vine when a crack forms around the place where the melon meets the vine. For optimum taste and sweetness, do not harvest the fruit until this crack completely encircles the area. Cantaloupes are typically ready for harvest 70 to 90 days after the seeds are planted.